Cameroonian born fashion designer, MARTIAL TAPOLO is one of the few designers in the world who oversees his entire production from the weaving of fabric to finishing touches of individual styling. Martial uses a mixture of raffia, burlap, and taffeta, wild silk, fine leathers in combination with fabrics of African origins in his designs, and compliments them with semi precious stones and ebony for his high fashion and ready-to-wear collection which includes an exclusive range of men’s shirt and costumes.

The originality in Martial’s art can be seen in his corsets, which is easily recognizable as a TAPOLA piece.

MARTIAL’s adoration for woman is clearly visible in his style of design. The TAPOLA Woman has a very feminine, noble silhouette, reflecting the designer’s statement of “the unforgettable women.”

Having initially studied sociology and art history, MARTIAL dramatically changed his life when he entered into the fashion world to become a self-taught designer with exceptional talent.

His designs are reminiscence from the deep culture and beauty of the African continent, magnified by the progression of modernization. At the young age of 27, MARTIAL’s first collection was awarded first price at the “Douala Fashion Festival of Young Designers.”

Photographed by: Joel Benguigui                                                              Photo by: Ernest Collins

With ten intriguing collections in his designing career, he had achieved many other awards even in Paris, and is today invited to participate in a number of international events.

The young gifted designer is climbing the ladder of success. With future shows previewed in Paris, London, US and the Middle East. His cloths can be as seen in magazines and films like Skin Territory where he designed the entire cast’s wardrobe